PUTRAJAYA: Shipping industry veteran Datuk Seri R. Jeyenderan has called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to expedite its investigation into alleged multimillion-ringgit discrepancies between bills of lading (BL) and physical petroleum cargo movements at Johor’s Tanjung Langsat Port.
Speaking to reporters at the MACC headquarters here today, the Maritime Network Sdn Bhd chief executive officer warned that the issue carries significant national security implications and could result in massive revenue losses for the government.
Jeyenderan, who has over 30 years of experience in the maritime industry, said he returned to the headquarters to seek an update on an official report he lodged with the anti-graft agency on June 5.
“Today marks one month and two days since I lodged the report. I came to the MACC headquarters to obtain an update on the progress of my complaint, as the matter involves transactions worth millions of ringgit and has significant implications,” he said.
“I have spoken to the investigating officer, and she gave me assurance that the probe is ongoing and that they need more time.”
Rising Risks for Shipping Agents
Jeyenderan previously highlighted that the greatest risk for a shipping agent occurs when physical cargo movements deviate from official documentation. Any mismatch between operational handling and paperwork, he explained, exposes all parties in the supply chain to severe liabilities.
While shipping agents do not own the cargo and are not the beneficial parties in these transactions, they face immense operational exposure. Authorities, port terminals, and counterparties rely heavily on the instructions and declarations processed through them.
Consequently, Jeyenderan noted that shipping agents are now placing a greater emphasis on documentation integrity, strict internal compliance controls, and rigorous Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification processes.
Complexities in the Oil Trade
According to Jeyenderan, the situation becomes increasingly complicated in complex oil trades. Agents frequently receive conflicting instructions from traders, receivers, terminals, forwarding agents, and logistics providers that do not align with the original BL.
“The moment different parties start operating from different versions of the cargo story, the risk level immediately increases because the agent still has to ensure consistency from a regulatory and operational standpoint,” he said.
Addressing practices like oil blending and commingling after discharge, Jeyenderan admitted such processes are common in the industry. However, he stressed that maintaining traceability becomes incredibly challenging once cargo enters storage systems and mixes with existing inventory.
He maintained that if cargo conditions change operationally through transfers, blending, or additional handling, the documentation and classification processes must evolve accordingly to ensure proper regulatory and commercial compliance.
Warning of Revenue Leakages
Jeyenderan warned that when Customs records, BL documents, tank measurements, and actual cargo positions fail to align, the maritime industry risks losing total visibility over cargo movements. This breakdown, he said, inevitably leads to compliance gaps, bitter commercial disputes, and government revenue leakages.
He concluded by urging closer global scrutiny on post-discharge cargo handling—specifically involving multiple tank transfers and storage movements—where documentary updates often fail to keep pace with physical cargo changes.
